Do Not Bask In Glory Of Having Beaten Thailand - Coach Rajagobal (BERNAMA)

From Zulhilmi Supaat



VIENTIANE, Dec 13 (Bernama) -- Malaysian players have been reminded not to bask in the glory of having beaten eight-time champions Thailand but to focus on the match against host Laos in the semifinal on Monday of the SEA Games football competition.

National head coach K. Rajagobal said one of the challenges tomorrow would be to focus on the game in the Main Stadium of the Laos National Sports Complex here where 20,000 supporters are expected to be cheering the home team.

Rajagobal had earlier taken the Malaysian squad through a light training session at the Laos Football Federation field here.

Malaysia, who were not given any hope of making it to the semifinals especially when they had to get past Thailand who have not missed a semifinal in 36 years, beat Thailand 2-1 in the final match of their group last Friday.

Malaysia will face Laos in their semifinal match at 7pm (8pm in Malaysia), and the match is likely to be telecast live to Malaysia over TV2 with the cooperation of the Information Communication and Culture Ministry and the Youth and Sports Ministry.

Rajagobal said he was without three key players, Ahmad Fakri Saarani, Mohd Amirulhadi Zainal and Mohamad Zaquan Adha Abd Radzak.

Ahmad Fakri and Mohd Amirulhadi have been suspended for one match after being shown a second yellow card in the match against Thailand.

Striker Mohamad Zaquan Adha, who can play following his two-match suspension, is suffering from an eye ailment and is seeking treatment back in Kuala Lumpur. He was shown the red card in the match against Vietnam.

"I have been in contact with him and, according to him, he is recovering following a medical examination this morning," he said, but added that bringing Mohamad Zaquan Adha for tomorrow's match would depend on his health and the flight schedule.

Vietnam will play Singapore in the other semifinal match, also at the same time, at the Chou Anouvong Stadium near here.

-- BERNAMA